Torch

Starred review from October 31, 2022
Three teens’ lives are upended following the death of a mutual loved one in this searing historical novel by Miller-Lachmann (Surviving Santiago), set in 1969 after the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. When Soviet agents arrest 17-year-old Pavol for smashing road signs to delay the incursion of tanks into Prague, the government rejects his university application in retaliation and sentences him to a career in the mines—the very livelihood that killed his father. Inspired by the death of real historical political martyr Jan Palach, and believing that “the only way out of his ruined life was a torch,” Pavol dies by suicide, setting himself on fire “for freedom.” Pavol’s three best friends—gay hockey star and former bully Šteˇpán, neurodivergent intellectual Tomáš, and pregnant girlfriend Lída—struggle to navigate life following his death. Miller-Lachmann deftly balances moments of happiness and hope within an ominously rendered narrative marked by fear and potential catastrophe. This captivating political thriller is perfect for Ruta Sepetys fans. A beginning note provides suicide prevention resources; a concluding author’s note details the inspiration behind Tomáš’s characterization. Ages 13–up.

Starred review from December 1, 2022
Grades 10-12 *Starred Review* Late 1960s Czechoslovakia is a place of turmoil under the Soviet regime--especially for young people like Pavol, whose lives are dictated by the state. Sadly, his dream of higher education is dashed due to his efforts to thwart Soviet tanks encroaching on Prague. In response, Pavol takes his own life by setting himself on fire. Among those he leaves behind are his friends, each with a secret involving Pavol. Tomas, awkward and insular, found a lifeline to the outside world in Pavol, who shared Tomas' love of contraband music. For Stepan, Pavol was the closest of friends, even as Stepan wished for a more intimate relationship. And Lida is left with the most impactful secret of all: Pavol's unborn child. All three must contend with the aftermath of their friend's death--and of the incendiary note authorities found on his corpse that could spell their doom. This book presents, in stark detail, an era and location not often depicted in modern media. It captures the pervasive despair with which all three protagonists contend and pulls no punches in showing the atrocities suffered by Czechoslovakians. Guns, violence, and alcohol abuse appear as intrinsic facets of life under Communist rule. Nevertheless, this story of revolutionary hope confronts dehumanizing forces through its resilient characters' deeply held friendships. An astonishing and gripping read.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from August 15, 2022
The brightest torches burn quickly. Readers barely have a chance to get to know 17-year-old Pavol Bartos, a young man whose bright future was extinguished when the oppressive Czechoslovak Communist Party, or KSČ, government denied his application to attend university and instead directed him to report for duty as a miner. Fueled by a desire to confront the unfair, authoritarian regime and guided by altruistic (if innocent) ideals, Pavol and his friends draft a letter that they plan to present to the government office in Prague Castle. When this plan falls apart, Pavol is resigned to what he believes is his last, terrible option: death. Pavol follows the example of real-life activist Jan Palach, a student who set himself ablaze in 1969 as an act of political protest against the KSČ. Pavol's untimely death has unforeseen consequences for his friends--gay former school bully Stěp�n; bookish neurodiverse Tom�s; and Pavol's newly pregnant girlfriend, L�da. Readers will be on the edges of their seats with fear as they follow the social, psychological, and physical fallout for this trio as they deal with the consequences of Pavol's actions while fighting for their own brief moments of happiness and hope. The story presents an unflinching look at the toll of authoritarianism; it's a tale that will inspire readers to examine modern politics and the need for people to stand up for personal rights before human torches are once again lit. Equally terrifying and captivating. (discussion questions, author's note, historical note) (Historical fiction. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from January 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-When 17-year-old Pavol sets fire to himself in Prague, his suicide is an act of protest against the Communist government, following the failure of the 1968 Czechoslovakian Revolution. But in his despair, Pavol has not fully considered the effects of his death on those who love him: his girlfriend, L�da, who has just realized she's pregnant; neurodivergent Tom�s, his lonely math-club friend; and St�p�n, who is secretly in love with him. L�da, St�p�n, and Tom�s grapple with ways they might have failed Pavol, even as the authorities track down and punish them. Will these young people find a way to heal and to live with their integrity intact? Can they escape? Expertly interweaving multiple perspectives, Miller-Lachmann gets the balance right between the universality of survivor's guilt and the specificity of the historical period. Pavol maintains his identity as the group's moral center-he is idealistic and fallible, a hero and a boy in pain. Crucially, Pavol is balanced by L�da's father, a WWII Resistance fighter whose alcoholism reflects the moral conflicts of a previous generation. Finally, the author even-handedly refuses to present "the West" as paradise. The author's note provides detailed context on Czechoslovakian history and resources for further reading. VERDICT A masterful, taut, and emotionally rich historical novel that is heartrending and essential reading for our present political climate.-Katherine Magyarody

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.